Stuck In the Rain

Mihangel trudged back to the Magical Society, head lowered and clutching a book within his arms. He was caked from head to toe in mud and looked rightly miserable. The book he carried also appeared to have fallen victim to the viscous goop, sporting splotches of brown on what could be seen of its cover.

Beside him walked the culprit of the grime, his best friend and worst enemy - Winterheart. She smiled cheerfully, nearly skipping.

Winter had managed to convince Mihangel out of the confines of his library to engage in a magical duel. She had promised one duel and then she would allow him to go back to his reading in peace. As always, Winter had taken things too far. It would have been one thing if she had only splattered Mihangel with the mud, but getting his book dirty was unforgivable.

"Oh, don't look so gloomy, Mihangel," Winter chided lightly. "It could be worse. It could be raining!"

As in every single time that line had been uttered before it was followed by a sudden flash of lightning and a boom of thunder. Water droplets began to fall from the sky and Mihangel very slowly turned his head to regard Winter. She gave an unconcerned shrug and he clutched his book all the tighter to keep it from getting wet.

Mihangel took a few steps further when he realized Winter was no longer beside him. He turned to find her sitting on the sodden ground with her head raised towards the sky. "What are you doing?" He asked, unsure if he really wanted an answer.

"I'm gonna fix things so the rain stops!" When there was no response from Mihangel, only a disbelieving look, she scoffed. "Do you doubt my abilities?"

"I doubt your weather manipulating abilities." He wasn't saying it to be rude, but it was the truth.

Winter rolled her eyes. "I'm one of the best, remember? Besides, I've been learning some tricks from Tymestl."

Mihangel thought back on the isolated dragon tucked away in a mountain range that they had met some time ago. The dragon kept himself away from civilization in attempts to protect the world from the storms he created yet was unable to control. "I thought Tymestl told us not to bother him again."

"Well, yeah. But how else am I supposed to learn anything? Now be quiet. You're ruining my concentration."

Mihangel fell silent like Winter had directed and watched as she continued to peer at the skies. She lifted her arms upwards, her fingers wriggling. For a few seconds the rain actually did abate. Then the skies darkened and the rain became a torrential downpour.

"What did you do?!" Mihangel cried to be heard over the pounding water.

"I'm sorry!" Winter shouted back. "Tymestl only told me how to create storms. But I thought if I tried the opposite I could get them to go away. Guess I was wrong!"

There was no time to stand there and argue further with the witch. Mihangel spun on his heels and began to jog back to the safety of the Magical Society.

Winterheart jumped up and chased after him. "Think about it this way - at least the rain will wash the mud off!"